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Questions & Answers about A cozinha é grande e bonita.
Why is cozinha a feminine noun in Portuguese?
In Portuguese, nouns follow grammatical gender: masculine or feminine. The word cozinha (kitchen) is a feminine noun by convention, just like many nouns that end with -a. There isn’t always a logical reason for why a particular word is feminine or masculine; it’s simply a feature of the language that learners need to memorize.
Why do we use é instead of está in this sentence?
In Portuguese, é (from the verb ser) implies a more permanent or inherent characteristic. Saying A cozinha é grande e bonita means that being large and pretty is a defining feature of the kitchen. If we used está, it would imply a temporary state, which doesn’t fit well here unless the kitchen’s appearance or size is somehow changing.
Why do adjectives come after the noun in this sentence?
In Portuguese, adjectives typically follow the noun they describe (e.g., cozinha grande). While it’s possible to see adjectives precede the noun in certain stylistic or emphasis-driven contexts, the standard word order in this case is noun + adjective.
Why is there an e between grande and bonita?
The e means and in Portuguese. It’s the standard conjunction used to connect two adjectives that describe the same noun, just like in English when you say “large and beautiful kitchen.”
Do grande and bonita have to agree in gender or number with cozinha?
Yes. The adjective bonita is feminine to match the feminine noun cozinha. However, grande doesn’t change form in the singular—it is spelled the same whether describing a feminine or masculine singular noun. If the sentence referred to multiple kitchens, for instance, it would be As cozinhas são grandes e bonitas, with both adjectives in their plural forms.
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